Name: Mrs Seema Bapat Age: 75 years Occupation: RetiredThe iourney so farI am a retired nurse and have studied M.B.B.S in India. I worked as a resident for one year and then moved to the U.S.A at the age of 25. I have always been weight conscious. I am not very tall and don't want to look fat. After moving to the U.S.A, I often ate deserts, cakes and chocolate syrup. Since I was a medical student, I used to check my fasting and not postprandial blood sugar levels. At the time of check-up for health insurance, my blood sugar levels were found to be 300 mg/dL. I was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes at the age of 27..My dietI was recommended to measure my food before eating. I used to weigh my food before packing my lunch. This helped memanage my portion size. I was associated with a Diabetes support group for children in the U.S.A While educating kids, I learned to keep candies at hand to prevent episodes of hypoglycaemia. Since l was more prone to nighttime hypoglycaemia, eating candies during such episodes helped me avoid serious consequences.l follow a vegetarian diet and my diet consists of lots of vegetables. I take a normal diet in moderation with calories. I know my proportion and fill my plate accordingly. I do not overeat and I keep a track of any extra food or sweet that I consume. If I eat any high-calorie food I avoid eating anything more to maintain my calorie intake.My fitness regimeMy diagnosis of Diabetes has restricted my running as I have developed knee problems. But I used to walk on the treadmUI for at least an hour every day and due to my profession, I used to walk a lot during my shifts. My favourite exercise is water aerobics.It is easy to do and also helps in maintaining flexibility and managing my weight. I try to remain active through my daily chores.My experience with the insulin pump l am as sensitive to sugar as I am to insulin.Even 0.1 unit of insulin could drop my blood sugar levels by 200 mg/dL. So my doctor prescribed me not to take insulin at night. l strongly believe that one should have a good healthcare team in place to help learn the basics of managing Diabetes. Sugar is not at all healthy for people with Diabetes and should be cut down to the minimum. One should also monitor his or her carbohydrate intake to achieve tight control over the blood sugar levels.I was recommended an insulin pump four years ago. Before the pump, I used to check my blood sugar levels and self-administered insulin accordingly. With the pump, I do not have to check my blood sugar levels frequently. It automatically calculates for me and delivers insulin in my system accordingly. Before I started using the pump, once I was about to start my exercise and checked my blood sugar levels as a part of my routine. My blood sugar levels went below 59 mg/dL. I ate a glucose tablet and after some time the blood sugar levels dipped further. All this along, I did not experience any symptoms of hypoglycaemia. I was hypoglycaemia unaware. To avoid such a situation in the future, I was advised to use an insulin pump by my doctor. Since the time I started using an insulin pump, I did not experience such situation again. It does keep my blood sugar levels on a little higher end which my doctor told me is more beneficial than having them on the low side. The only flipside I feel is the cost of the insulin pump. It is expensive and may be difficult to afford for many people. If affordable, it is the best way to have one's Diabetes under control, especially in children.Word of adviceHaving a good doctor, dietician and Diabetes educator is a must for having a good hold on Diabetes. They will help you in not only understanding the nuances of Diabetes but also educate you about the different complications and how to avoid or manage them.Prepare a brief note of your medical history and a list of your current prescription. Find the best doctor you can and have the attitude of learning. Listen to the doctors and understand Diabetes. Consult a Diabetes educator regarding any medication and its effect on Diabetes.Discuss with your family about your Diabetes care regime and share the details of your condition with them. Keep glucose tablets handy to overcome hypoglycaemia. Check your blood sugar levels regularly.Never give up, work to figure out what is good for you in Diabetes. Learn from your mistakes and find the right way to control your Diabetes.
Name: Mrs Seema Bapat Age: 75 years Occupation: RetiredThe iourney so farI am a retired nurse and have studied M.B.B.S in India. I worked as a resident for one year and then moved to the U.S.A at the age of 25. I have always been weight conscious. I am not very tall and don't want to look fat. After moving to the U.S.A, I often ate deserts, cakes and chocolate syrup. Since I was a medical student, I used to check my fasting and not postprandial blood sugar levels. At the time of check-up for health insurance, my blood sugar levels were found to be 300 mg/dL. I was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes at the age of 27..My dietI was recommended to measure my food before eating. I used to weigh my food before packing my lunch. This helped memanage my portion size. I was associated with a Diabetes support group for children in the U.S.A While educating kids, I learned to keep candies at hand to prevent episodes of hypoglycaemia. Since l was more prone to nighttime hypoglycaemia, eating candies during such episodes helped me avoid serious consequences.l follow a vegetarian diet and my diet consists of lots of vegetables. I take a normal diet in moderation with calories. I know my proportion and fill my plate accordingly. I do not overeat and I keep a track of any extra food or sweet that I consume. If I eat any high-calorie food I avoid eating anything more to maintain my calorie intake.My fitness regimeMy diagnosis of Diabetes has restricted my running as I have developed knee problems. But I used to walk on the treadmUI for at least an hour every day and due to my profession, I used to walk a lot during my shifts. My favourite exercise is water aerobics.It is easy to do and also helps in maintaining flexibility and managing my weight. I try to remain active through my daily chores.My experience with the insulin pump l am as sensitive to sugar as I am to insulin.Even 0.1 unit of insulin could drop my blood sugar levels by 200 mg/dL. So my doctor prescribed me not to take insulin at night. l strongly believe that one should have a good healthcare team in place to help learn the basics of managing Diabetes. Sugar is not at all healthy for people with Diabetes and should be cut down to the minimum. One should also monitor his or her carbohydrate intake to achieve tight control over the blood sugar levels.I was recommended an insulin pump four years ago. Before the pump, I used to check my blood sugar levels and self-administered insulin accordingly. With the pump, I do not have to check my blood sugar levels frequently. It automatically calculates for me and delivers insulin in my system accordingly. Before I started using the pump, once I was about to start my exercise and checked my blood sugar levels as a part of my routine. My blood sugar levels went below 59 mg/dL. I ate a glucose tablet and after some time the blood sugar levels dipped further. All this along, I did not experience any symptoms of hypoglycaemia. I was hypoglycaemia unaware. To avoid such a situation in the future, I was advised to use an insulin pump by my doctor. Since the time I started using an insulin pump, I did not experience such situation again. It does keep my blood sugar levels on a little higher end which my doctor told me is more beneficial than having them on the low side. The only flipside I feel is the cost of the insulin pump. It is expensive and may be difficult to afford for many people. If affordable, it is the best way to have one's Diabetes under control, especially in children.Word of adviceHaving a good doctor, dietician and Diabetes educator is a must for having a good hold on Diabetes. They will help you in not only understanding the nuances of Diabetes but also educate you about the different complications and how to avoid or manage them.Prepare a brief note of your medical history and a list of your current prescription. Find the best doctor you can and have the attitude of learning. Listen to the doctors and understand Diabetes. Consult a Diabetes educator regarding any medication and its effect on Diabetes.Discuss with your family about your Diabetes care regime and share the details of your condition with them. Keep glucose tablets handy to overcome hypoglycaemia. Check your blood sugar levels regularly.Never give up, work to figure out what is good for you in Diabetes. Learn from your mistakes and find the right way to control your Diabetes.
